Now is the time when schools and other educational institutions are planning their budgets for the next fiscal year. For many, reevaluating their communications system’s cost, efficiency, capabilities, and emergency with an eye towards upgrading or replacement is part of the discussion.
This is an excellent opportunity to discuss upgrades with educational clients and prospects considering revamping or replacing their current communications systems. Chances are good that their stakeholders—including staff, students, families, and administration—are demanding more and expecting more.
Cloud9 Infrastructure can provide tremendous support for Mitel channel partners who want to serve the educational market, especially at this time of year. If you need assistance with explaining the benefits of a managed private cloud solution when pitching a prospect, Cloud9 Infrastructure can provide it. If your technical staff needs help with remote installation and/or ongoing remote moves and changes, our tech team has deep experience in that area. Cloud9 Infrastructure can also offer 24/7/365 remote support services to your customers. We work directly for you as your strategic partner, and you remain the single point of contact and trusted advisor for your customers.
Here’s what you need to know when talking to educational prospects.
Increased Pressure for Upgrades
Many schools and campuses that rely on an on-premises system are still using what the industry calls Plain Old Telephone Service, or POTS. In many areas, carriers are either eliminating POTS entirely or greatly increasing the costs.
Many carriers are pushing customers to convert on-premises systems that use a Primary Rate Interface (PRI) to one with a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) service. Organizations that want to keep their existing phone systems will pay a hefty premium.
With Cloud9 Infrastructure, schools can opt for a hybrid system (combining on-premises and cloud-based technology) or a fully managed private cloud-based system that offers the following:
- Unlimited inbound/outbound calling within the 48 contiguous United States
- Full Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act compliance
- Free moves and changes for the life of the service (if requested by the channel partner)
- Superior security, reliability, and support
Both configurations can yield significant cost savings. Both alternatives also bring additional capabilities to schools and campuses. When designed correctly, these systems future-proof communications, allowing schools to implement the latest technology without disruption.
Cloud9 Infrastructure can help you demonstrate the efficiencies and cost-savings for schools considering moving from POTS to a hybrid or cloud-based system.
Hybrid Communications: Best of Both Worlds
Many schools that aren’t ready to move all communications to the cloud—or want to manage costs by using as much existing hardware as possible—find hybrid systems an excellent solution.
The benefits of an on-premises system are many: easy to manage and monitor while leveraging the existing investment in on-site equipment. And it’s very secure.
The benefits of a cloud-based system are also many: it’s flexible, can be accessed from almost anywhere, and adding capabilities—such as integrating communications with other software—is relatively easy.
For an organization with an on-premises system, the decision to move to the cloud can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. A hybrid system that uses Mitel equipment and the Cloud9 Infrastructure managed private cloud service makes it easy for schools to reap the benefits of both configurations.
E911 Compliance & Mass Notifications
Schools are more safety conscious than ever. Government regulations collectively known as E911 (Extended 911) require phones to communicate an exact location within a building to emergency personnel when calling 911. A system must tell emergency personnel what building and room the call is coming from.
Your clients and prospects are most likely well aware of this. (If not, you have an opportunity to educate them.)
In addition, schools need to communicate with teachers and staff quickly and efficiently when a possible emergency occurs. A notification on the intercom isn’t sufficient. To help safeguard everyone in the building, Mitel offers a mass notification system called Mitel Revolution.
Mitel Revolution provides enhanced emergency notifications and real-time information using several methods. The result: On-premises and remote staff located virtually anywhere receive critical, accurate information and guidance quickly. The system can communicate with desktop PCs and desk phones, mobile phones, SMS text, intercom and paging systems, email, etc., to reach the widest possible audience with unprecedented speed.
An Approved Communications Partner
Schools must generally meet stringent requirements when soliciting bids for major projects and expenditures such as communications systems. Mitel’s approvals from major bidding systems remove a major hurdle for schools choosing Mitel technology.
Organizations like Sourcewell, SHI, MRA, etc., ease the RFP process by doing the most difficult work up front—bidding and vetting potential vendors—and offering partners that already meet price and reliability requirements. The “cooperative purchasing” process ensures that educational organizations benefit from a financially sound manufacturer that will meet their needs over the long haul. Schools also need to know that their new systems will be stable, reliable, and secure, while meeting all audit requirements.
Backed by five decades in the communications technology business, Mitel is Sourcewell’s preferred unified communications (UC) vendor. As a Mitel Platinum Partner and a Mitel-exclusive partner, fully endorsed by Mitel, Cloud9 Infrastructure has worked with Mitel channel partners to assist numerous government and educational organizations, all of which have had different needs, different procurement checklists, and different levels of comfort with adopting new technology, to overcome whatever unique hurdles they face.
Superior Reliability and White-Glove Service
One of the biggest concerns many schools have about cloud-based technology is system reliability. Is it as stable and reliable as an on-premises system? The right partner can dispel those concerns with robust fail-safe and exemplary customer service.
Cloud9 Infrastructure, for example, offers a managed private cloud with multi-instance architecture and geo-redundant data centers. Customers share their servers with no other users, unlike multi-tenant architecture (UCaaS), and each user’s dedicated hardware has numerous redundant sites in geographically diverse areas.
In addition, all Mitel channel partners—and their customers—receive U.S.-based, white-glove support 24/7/365 from Cloud9 Infrastructure even during the prospecting phase. Cloud9 Infrastructure can also help channel partners with sales and sales engineering services. Cloud9 Infrastructure also offers Mitel channel partners complimentary proof of concept, which allows your customers to try Mitel hardware and software without obligation.
Regardless of how much Cloud9 Infrastructure supports you, you own the client relationship and manage every aspect of it. You remain the point of contact for clients and prospects. Behind the scenes, Cloud9 Infrastructure provides everything you need to grow the number of schools on your client list.
Our end-to-end, turnkey solution increases the value you bring to schools and other clients with MiVoice Business (MiVB) licenses and associated Mitel applications, whether they are already using cloud-based technology or are curious about how it might benefit them. Cloud9 Infrastructure can provide the infrastructure and services you and your clients need.
Please contact us today at 800.947.0007, email mitel@cloud9infrastructure.com, or visit cloud9infrastructure.com.